Foreign scroungers to be barred from free NHS treatment

MIGRANT health tourists will be barred from getting free health care under a crackdown to be unleashed this week, the changes are part of a Government-wide push to cut down on abuse of British public services.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will launch a consultation on introducing a tracking system that would mean a patient's NHS number is linked to their immigration status.

Plans to charge for GP services for people not eligible for free care are also being considered.

A new Immigration Bill, introduced during the Queen's speech in May, outlined plans for incomers' accessing NHS services to make a contribution to the cost of their care, either with their own money or through their government.

Mr Hunt said: "No one expects health workers to become immigration guards and we want to work alongside doctors to bring about improvements, but I'm clear we must all work together to protect the NHS from abuse.

"We want a system that is fair for the British taxpayer by ensuring that foreign nationals pay for their NHS treatment.

"By looking at the scale of the problem and at where and how improvements can be made we will help ensure the NHS remains sustainable for many years to come."

No one expects health workers to become immigration guards and we want to work alongside doctors to bring about improvements, but I'm clear we must all work together to protect the NHS from abuse

Jeremy Hunt, Health Secretary

The NHS bill for treating foreigners, estimated to be up to £200million, will also be tackled as part of reforms being outlined on Wednesday.

The proposals include tightening up systems for claiming back the cost of treating thousands of European visitors every year from their home country.

An audit will be launched to establish how much overseas patients and short-term residents cost the health service. Around £33million went on the treatment of foreign nationals in hospitals in 2011/12, of which around £12million was written off.

According to Department of Health research, less than half of overseas visitors using hospitals are identified and only half of their costs are recovered, but officials pointed to a 2003 report by insurers CCI that put the cost at between £50million and £200million.

But the Royal College of General Practitioners warned against introducing reforms that could put doctors in an "invidious position of being the new border agency".

Chairwoman Clare Gerada said: "GPs must not become a new 'border agency' in policing access to the NHS. GPs have a duty of care to all people seeking health care and should not be expected to turn people away when they are at their most vulnerable.

It is important to protect individuals and public health and general practice must remain the main access to health care within the NHS.

While the health system must not be abused and we must bring an end to health tourism, it is important that we do not overestimate the problem and that GPs are not placed in the invidious position of being the new border agency."

The moves come as polls showed that the public supports tough measures. An ICM poll yesterday revealed that George Osborne won the backing of nearly twothirds of voters (64 per cent) for his plan, announced in last week's spending review, for an overall cap on benefits spending.

A total of 87 per cent backed the cutting of benefits for jobless immigrants who refuse to take English lessons, with 63 per cent supporting moves to make lone parents attend Jobcentres and "prepare for work".

Grant Shapps, the Tory Party co-chairman, said: "This shows that the public overwhelmingly back the Conservative idea that people who want to work hard and get on in life should be given every opportunity."